Islam prohibits presidential candidates from securing votes through handouts of money, food, or anything else, according to a statement from Egypt’s official authority for issuing fatwas, or religious opinions.
Dar al-Ifta also called on all presidential candidates to be honest and fulfill the pledges they have made to the Egyptian people.
The statement said Islam demands honesty and respect for free will, and therefore forbids corruption, lying, bribery and poor ethics that exploit people’s needs.
The fatwa went on to say that voting in the election is considered a form of testimony, and that God prohibits the silencing of testimony.
According to the fatwa, endorsing falsehoods is also a form of concealing testimony, which is forbidden in the Quran and Sunnah. It said one of the signs indicating the approach of Judgment Day is the loss of honesty and that important matters are placed in the hands of the wrong people.
Edited translation from MENA
